Solar Bears thwart Toledo with 2 3rd-period goals in 4-2 victory

Solar Bears beat Toledo Walleye for 2nd consecutive game.

A combined three goals by two recent additions powered the Orlando Solar Bears (6-4-0-1, 13 points) to a 4-2 victory against the Toledo Walleye (4-5-1-0) on Monday night at Amway Center.

In front of an announced crowd of 4,861, forward Francis Verreault-Paul scored two goals, and defenseman Blake Kessel added another to lead the way.

"It's my third game this year, and I feel that I am back like I used to [be],'' Verrault-Paul said. "I'm pretty happy about it.''

Verreault-Paul was acquired Oct. 25 from the Bakersfield Condors in a trade between ECHL teams.

"[Verreault-Paul] has done nothing but work hard and battle," head coach Vince Williams said. "We've been fortunate to make some good decisions and bring in the right people and personnel."

The victory was the second in as many nights over the Walleye and extended Orlando's winning streak to a season-long three games.

"We played really well tonight; we had to get those points," Verreault-Paul said.

In the third period, Kessel fired a shot on the Solar Bears' sixth power play that was deflected into the back of the net by forward C.J. Severyn. Severyn's fifth goal this season snapped a 2-all tie 3 minutes, 51 seconds into the third period.

Kessel was acquired from Bakersfield for future considerations. The defenseman was a sixth-round pick by the NHL's New York Islanders in 2007 and second in scoring among ECHL defensemen last season with 41 points.

Kessel scored a goal in the first period to give the Solar Bears a 2-1 lead.

The Solar Bears attempted 36 shots, compared to 25 for the Walleye.

Forward Mike Ullrich notched three assists.

The scoring began just over a minute after the puck dropped to start the game when Verreault-Paul, a forward, snuck a goal past Toledo's Mac Carruth.

The Solar Bears' next three games are on the road, starting Wednesday night against the Cincinnati Cyclones.